History lovers! This Staff Pick from Nat is for you --->
"Tecumseh and the Prophet: The Heroic Struggle for America`s Heartland"
By Peter Cozzens
"In my opinion, Shawnee chief Tecumseh is one of the most fascinating people in American history. This book by Peter Cozzens is an engaging chronicle of Tecumseh’s life that also devotes ample space to his often overlooked brother, the `Shawnee Prophet`` Tenskwatawa. Cozzens’ expertly told dual biography offers an insightful look into two towering figures who have been mythologized in a way that obscures reality.
Before Tecumseh’s death in the War of 1812, the brothers constructed a pan-tribal Native American confederacy that opposed U.S. expansionism and attempted to create an independent Indian nation. Tecumseh has become a folk hero, remembered as a brilliant orator, inspiring leader, and brave warrior. On the other hand, Tenskwatawa is frequently depicted as a drunken charlatan. Cozzens challenges that portrayal of the `Shawnee Prophet.` Using a wide array of sources, Cozzens shows how the religious and cultural revival led by Tenskwatawa was essential to Tecumseh’s political project.
If you share my fascination with Tecumseh, this book is obviously a must-read. It is somewhat dense and highly detailed, but I would still highly recommend `Tecumseh and the Prophet` to anyone with even a passing interest in Native American history."
~Nat
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